No, because they are only of (dubious) value for those customers who are using the iPad for listening to music, yet are still willing to cope with the crappy OEM earbuds Apple is providing. In fact, I wish Apple would do the same with iPods. So many people don't even realize what they're missing.

No, because they are only of (dubious) value for those customers who are using the iPad for listening to music, yet are still willing to cope with the crappy OEM earbuds Apple is providing. In fact, I wish Apple would do the same with iPods. So many people don't even realize what they're missing.

I'm with you on this one. Although I enjoyed my Apple headphones with my iPod Nano in the beginning, I got a much better and higher quality pair of headphones than Apple.

Since Apple supplies them, people just stick with it, and I am assuming under the conditions that the Apple ones breaks or fail, people will go out purchase the same ones because of the "experience" or whatever.

I've always found it a bit strange that Apple supplies such bad sounding, uncomfortable headphones with their stuff, considering how perfect-consumer-experience oriented they are. At the least, they should throw in their upgraded in-ear headphones, those ones are at least tolerable.

Upgrading your headphones is something you should consider. I purchased a pair of Bose in ear headphones a year ago and they sound fantastic. Never going back to the apple ones again. Quality isn't there and my Bose have lasted longer than the apple ones ever did.

I use the 4S headphones when I jog. I like them, with the cool volume switch and button.

What kind of audio quality am I missing and how much do you pay for your super music headphones?

You definitely don't have to enter audiophile territory to *significantly* enhance audio quality. For example, you can get the Klipsch S4i from amazon for 70$ - they even have the same volume control / button / microphone as the stock ear buds.

The music quality on the iPad 3 is pretty bad - at least relative to Iphone 4S and Ipod Touch (2nd gen) I have. So no, I don't think you should be using the Ipad as a music player. Just use your iphone or ipod. Apple is trying to tell us something providing no earphones.

I never understood why manufacturers included headphones with their devices because the supplied ear buds are rubbish, Apple ones included. The quality is offensive. If you enjoy music, you should invest in a quality pair of buds or cans and move them from device to device. Your ears will thank you for it!

I really don't get the quality issue with the apple buds to be honest. They are not going to package the iPhone or any device with big ear muff type headphones, if you want quality, why would you use in ear buds anyway. The Apple ones do a good job.

I suggest you try some decent in ear buds, you might be in for a serious surprise.

Hate, hate, hate them. What do you think I have been living in a cave and have never tried in ear buds? They're offensive, a monstrosity to the human ear, truly despicable.
But at least they don't make you look like you can't read and write (Beat's).

Hate, hate, hate them. What do you think I have been living in a cave and have never tried in ear buds? They're offensive, a monstrosity to the human ear, truly despicable. But at least they don't make you look like you can't read and write (Beat's).

Not sure what that is in reference to, but I own a pair of power beats that I use in the gym, and they're the best pair of in ear buds, or otherwise that I have owned.